"Beautiful. I wish I can have my wedding held here." Arianna muttered as she stroll inside the flower dome.
The Love Garden was one of the best places in the Green Valley country club. It was an extravagant flower park that exhibits stunning flowering trees and plants, and various garden landscapes. Arianna has been here once. It was during a friend's wedding which was held in this colorful Love Garden and up until now, the place was still as mesmerizing as ever to her.
Beside her, Yago looked at Arianna's way when he heard her remark. He smiled gently at her. "I can make that happen! Tell me the date and I'll reserve the whole country club for you." he teased.
Arianna glanced at the man and then chuckled. "No thanks. I've already booked Le Passerelle pavilion for that." she replied. Yago's smile disappeared when he heard her answer. That was the venue for Arianna and Jayden's wedding. He looked away and watched as the servants arrange the rose pergola not too far away. It's where they plan to have their family lunch today. The table wasn't set yet. Maybe they still have some time to chat?
"Let's sit for a while." Yago said as he pulled Arianna to a nearby bench. "They won't finish preparing the table for another fifteen minutes or so."
Arianna followed Yago and sat beside him. She was in great spirit as her eyes take pleasure in watching the sea of flowers around her.
"Aren't you going to invite me at your wedding?" Yago asked from the side, catching her attention. She turned to him with puzzled eyes so he repeated his question thinking that she didn't hear him properly before.
"Why would I need to invite you?" she asked with furrowed brows when she heard him repeat his question. "There's no need for that. Just focus on getting better."
Yago stared at her for a long time. Was that her way of telling him to not worry about the wedding and just rest assured? She didn't say anything to her parents. So could he take it as Arianna wasn't really planning to marry Jayden? But if that is so, then why did she waste her precious time preparing for this event? Just when he was about to probe further, their conversation was interrupted by a ringing tone coming from Arianna's bag. Yago furrowed his brows in discontentment. Why do people likes to call at a wrong time?
"Excuse me for a while. I'm going to take this call first." she said as she stood up from the bench with her phone in hand. She walked a few steps before pressing the answer icon.
"I missed you!" the caller instantly blurted out as the call connected. "I missed you so-so- much!!!"
Arianna chuckled when she heard that. " Yeah. I missed you too!" she replied on impulse. It was just after she said that, that she remembered about the man sitting behind her. She glanced at him and when she found him looking at her, she shied away and walked farther away from him.
I missed you too, huh? Just who did she say that to? Yago watched Arianna flee. Wasn't she keeping too much of a distance from him? Does she really have to be several meters away from him for a mere call? Why so secretive? She even eyed him a few times, as if checking if he's eavesdropping? Just who was that caller?
Arianna on the other hand felt a bit guilty. It's awkward to chat with him around, so she made sure she could continue the conversation in private.
"Why are you calling me so suddenly?" Arianna asked with a warm smile. It's been a while since she last saw her. She really did miss her, too.
"I can't sleep and I'm bored so I decided to call you. Am I disturbing you?" the woman asked.
"Of course not. You're welcome to call me anytime. Where are you now? I haven't heard from you from a long time now. Aren't you going to visit me during the coming holidays?" Arianna said, laughing. She was just kidding though. She would probably spend christmas with her family, right?
"Ahh... I'm not sure about that." she muttered.
Arianna chuckled more when she heard her defeated voice. "Hey Ellaine! I was just joking! I'm not blaming you!" she said before pausing for a while. She caught a glimpse of 'Vier' still staring at her and her heart suddenly ached. She felt like something was wrong with her somehow. Her smile turned bitter as she looked away from him. "I can come to you if you want. Tell me where you are and I'll come to you in a heart beat!" she tried to make her voice as normal as possible, even though she felt a lump stuck in her troat.
'Am I betraying a friend right now? Since my heart beat wildly at the sight of her man?' Arianna shook her head. She didn't like the feeling at all. She rarely do things she knows she'll regret, so what is she doing now?
"I'm afraid you can't find this place. I've been staying somewhere remote for a while now. It's a faraway island. Even I don't know how to get here on my own." Ellaine explained on the phone. "And I can't leave Vier alone in here. I don't have the heart to... "
Arianna was startled by Ellaine's words. Did she hear her wrong?
"Wait, you said you are now staying in an island- with Vier?"
Ellaine's stuttered a bit as she tried to answer. "It's not what you think! We're staying in two separate rooms! We're still getting to know each other." she clarified.
Ellaine misunderstood her but the point was still there. Vier- at the moment stays with Ellaine. She's with him right now- in an island across the globe. Then...
Arianna's heart started beating out of control. She turned around to look at the man still sitting at the bench not too far away. That man who was watching her every move... who is he?
"When did you started living with him in that love nest island?" Arianna made her voice more lively as she pretended to tease her. She sounded cheerful, but her heart wouldn't stop pounding hard in her chest.
"We went straight here after our engagement party. I don't know why but his parents sent him here. I was wondering if this is a punishment or something. He wouldn't tell me anything about it though. He isn't allowed to leave, so I'm staying here to accompany him."
"Well, I saw Erica last week and she told me about what happened to their older brother. Did he survive the assassination? Did you hear about it too?" Arianna shot questions after another. Eager to get into things.
"Oh that? Yeah. I've heard about it too. It's been a few days since the incident, right? About eight? Nine days? Vier didn't mention about it again so I guess he's doing well now...."
He's doing well now? Vier's brother is doing well.... Vier's brother....
Arianna turned mum. The incident a few days ago? She was expecting to hear about Yago's assassination way back then just to confirm if he's still alive. But now, Ellaine just revealed to her that Vier's brother was targeted a few days ago... This can't be more clear.
"Ellaine, I gotta go now. I'll call you some other time." she said with her voice shaking.
Arianna failed to stop her tears from streaming down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her sobs. He can't let Yago see her like this. Her heart swelled with joy, but something ached inside as well. She put her knuckles close to her lips and kissed the ring on her finger. Yago- did keep his promise.